Our guide to...Butterfly Recording
You can record butterflies anywhere - in your garden or local green space, on a walk or at a nature reserve.
Activities to Try:
- Watching the butterflies in your garden for an hour and recording which species visit
- Taking a walk or using an accessible trail and recording the butterflies you see along the way
- Recording species you see while visiting your local green space or nature reserve (from a bench or seat, or on a walk)
- Downloading our Butterfly Spring Bingo sheet to take with you on your adventures - how many species can you find?
Equipment to Take:
To get up close and personal with butterflies, and to make identification easier, you could use a pair of binoculars for closer views.
Identification Resources:
If you're not sure how to tell your peacock from your painted lady, you can use Butterfly Conservation’s identification tool – all you need are the colours and the type of markings (like spots or stripes).
Top Tips for Butterfly Recording:
- Butterflies are most active and easier to find on warm, sunny days
- Butterflies visit areas where a range of flowers and trees grow as these are good sources of nectar.
- In a warm, sheltered spot, butterflies may spend a while on each flower. If you move slowly, and make sure not to cover the butterfly with your shadow, you will be able to get closer for a really good look!